Can You Put Clothing in the Recycle Bin?
In response to an ever increasing population of textile waste, many people are wondering if they can put clothing in the recycle bin. The answer is not as simple as it may first seem.
Clothing Recycling Sorting Process
When clothing is disposed of in the general waste bin, these items are sent to landfill where they take an extremely long time to decompose. For this reason, a large number of charities, retailers and donation centers have created clothing & textile collection points in order to divert these items from entering landfills.
The materials collected from these points are sorted and baled prior to being processed for further reuse. Depending on the grade and quality of the materials, the sorting process can be broken down into four categories:
- High-grade clothing and fabrics – These materials are typically collected from quality retailers and donation centers. They are then sorted according to color, size and type before being sold on to second-hand shops, mainly in developing countries.
- Industrial-grade clothing and fabrics – Cloth items that are not in wearable condition are typically processed into industrial products such as carpets, rags, insulation and stuffing.
- Lower-grade clothing and fabrics – These materials are not suitable for the above processes and are sent to paper mills where they can be turned into paper and tissue.
- Unsuitable materials – These items are typically discarded as they are not suitable for any of the above processes.
Can You Put Clothing in the Recycle Bin?
The answer to this question will depend on the collection rules where you live. Most municipal recycling centers will accept all types of clothing, although some may require them to be bagged for hygiene reasons.
It is important to note that not all types of clothing can be recycled, such as wet items and those that contain hazardous materials. For this reason, it is advisable to check with your local recycling center before disposing of any garment.
In conclusion, it is possible to put clothing in the recycle bin, although there may be some restrictions in place depending on where you live. As mentioned above, it is important to check with your local recycling center before disposing of any garment in order to ensure that it is suitable for recycling.